Chapter 1: Introduction and Background 

1. Introduction 

The Official Languages Act 2003 provides for the preparation by public bodies of a language scheme detailing the services which they will provide: 

• through the medium of Irish, 

• through the medium of English, and 

• through the medium of Irish and English 

and the measures to be adopted to ensure that any service not currently provided by the body through the medium of the Irish language will be so provided within an agreed timeframe. 

In accordance with section 14(3) of the Act, language schemes remain in force for a period of 3 years or until such time as a new scheme is confirmed by the Minister for Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht, whichever is the later. 

1.2 Preparation and Content of the Scheme  

In the preparation of this scheme, due regard has been given to the Guidelines issued by the Department of Media, Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport and the Gaeltacht.  In addition, there has been a comprehensive process of consultation with relevant stakeholders.  

The National Museum of Ireland is guided by the principle that the provision of Irish language services should be based on: 

• the level of demand for specific services in the Irish language, 

• the importance of a proactive approach to the provision of such services, and  

• the resources, including human and financial resources, and the capacity of the body concerned to develop or access the necessary language capability.  

This scheme complements the principles of Quality Customer Service and our Customer Charter. It has been formulated with the intention of ensuring that all relevant obligations under the Official Languages Act by the National Museum of Ireland will be fully addressed on an incremental basis, through this and future schemes. 

Only applicable to public bodies with previous confirmed schemes 

This Scheme is predicated on all of the commitments in any previous scheme having been implemented. In the event of commitments in earlier schemes not having been fully implemented to date, this matter has been the subject of discussion with the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga.  

The time and effort put in by all concerned in this process is acknowledged and appreciated. 

1.3 Commencement date of the Scheme 

This Scheme has been confirmed by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. It commences with effect from 21st October 2020 and shall remain in force for a period of 3 years or until a new scheme has been confirmed, whichever is the later. 

Chapter 2: Overview of the National Museum of Ireland 

The origins of the National Museum of Ireland lie with the enactment of the Dublin Science and Art Museum Act, 1877. This led to the transfer of the buildings and collections of the Royal Dublin Society (R.D.S.) to state ownership. These were further enhanced by the transfer of other notable collections from institutions such as the Royal Irish Academy and Trinity College Dublin. The Dublin Museum of Science and Art was renamed the National Museum of Ireland in the early twentieth century. 

The National Museum of Ireland today consists of five separate museum sites: The National Museum of Ireland - Archaeology, Kildare Street, Dublin; The National Museum of Ireland - Decorative Arts and History, Collins Barracks, Dublin; the National Museum of Ireland - Natural History, Merrion Street, Dublin; The National Museum of Ireland - Country Life, Castlebar, Co. Mayo and the National Museum of Ireland - Collections Resource Centre, Swords, Co. Dublin. 

On 3 May 2005 under the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, the National Museum became a body corporate with a Board appointed by the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism. The Board has certain responsibilities under the Act in relation to the Irish language, i.e. 

Under section 11(2) (L) of the National Cultural Institutions Act, 1997, one of the powers of the Board to enable it to perform its functions under section 11, is to foster and promote the Irish language in the course of the performance of its functions. 

Section 30(1) of the Act provides in relation to staff appointments by the Board that an adequate number of the staff should be competent in the Irish language so as to provide service though Irish as well as English. The National Museum provides services through the medium of Irish across all its areas of operation. During the period of this Scheme there will be a significant increase in the level of Irish language service provided, particularly relating to online and interactive content.   

Section 36(1) of the Act provides that the annual report to be prepared and submitted by the Board to the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism shall be in both the English and Irish languages. 

The role of the National Museum of Ireland is extensive but the following core elements may be selected as fundamental: 

• Securing the portable heritage of Ireland 

• Facilitating study of the objects in the collections 

• Communicating information relating to the collections and the disciplines they represent  

Along with other National Cultural Institutions, the Museum has primary responsibility at a national level for ensuring the security of objects which reflect Ireland’s heritage. In practice this involves the accumulation of collections of such objects and their safe keeping in perpetuity. The principal point of access for the public to the collections is through exhibitions. Objects are also available for study either by Museum staff or researchers and the results of that research come to be made available in publications, in the mass media or in academic papers.  

2.1  Mission and Objectives  

In light of its mandate, the Museum’s vision is:  

The National Museum of Ireland’s vision is for a museum of international quality and standing, rightly positioned and valued at the forefront of Ireland’s cultural life, by preserving and presenting the stories of Ireland and its place in the world. We will navigate the delivery of this strategic plan through a deep commitment to our organisational values. These five values provide the principles by which we deliver our mission and vision, how we welcome our visitors, conduct our research, produce exhibitions, and fulfil our statutory and corporate responsibilities. 

Stewardship  

We are responsible for the professional care and interpretation of the national collections, informed by rigorous research, scholarship and staff expertise. 

Innovation  

We aim to increase our capacity to share our collections across physical and online platforms, exploring innovative ways of collaborating across education, research, arts and humanities, museum studies, economic development and science. 

Transparency  

We strive to deal openly with all and operate strong corporate governance and compliance principles. We hold the collections on behalf of the people of Ireland and we provide a lens for our visitors to gain perspectives on the future while enhancing understanding of our past. 

Accessibility 

 We are for everyone. We will ensure our collections and activities are wide-reaching and will seek to engage new audiences. We aim to provide universal access across all our sites and services. 

Collaboration  

We will work with organisations and communities to maximise our impact and increase our interaction at local, national and international level. 

2.2  Main Functions 

The functional areas of the Museum comprise: 

• Directorate 

• Operations Division 

• HR/Corporate Affairs Unit 

• Finance Unit 

• Information Communication Technology 

• Marketing Department 

• Facilities Department 

• Commercial Development Unit 

• Retail 

• Collections & Learning Division 

• Art and Industrial Division 

• Irish Antiquities Division 

• Irish Folklife Division 

• Natural History Division 

• Conservation Department 

• Registration Department 

• Education and Outreach Department 

• Photographic Department 

• Design Department 

Further information on the activities of the Museum is contained in the Museum’s website – www.museum.ie. 

2.3  Customers and Clients   

The delivery of services and outcome of policies and strategies pursued by the Museum ultimately impact on a wide array of people. The Museum’s main client and customer base comprises: 

• General Public 

• Overseas and Domestic Tourists 

• Specialist Visitors  

• Researchers  

• Special Needs Groups 

• Families  

• Formal Education Sector (Primary to Third level) 

• Informal Education Sector 

• Online audiences 

Chapter 3: Details of services currently being provided in English only, in Irish only or bilingually 

Please indicate which language your services are provided through, including services in Gaeltacht areas. 

Chapter 4: Enhancing the provision of Irish Language Services 

The provisions shaded in grey in the table below are mandatory requirements under the Official Languages Act 2003. 

Chapter 5: Enhancing the Provision of Irish Language Services in Gaeltacht Areas 

Enhancing the provision of Irish language services in Gaeltacht areas and ensuring that Irish becomes the working language in offices located in Gaeltacht areas by a certain date. 

Commitments in Gaeltacht Areas 

Chapter 6: Improving Language Capability 

6.1 Recruitment   

The recruitment of staff with the appropriate level of competence in the Irish language in each area of work of the National Museum of Ireland will be the primary means of optimising the availability of services through Irish.  Our recruitment policy, which is subject to the framework of agreed national recruitment procedures, will have regard to the need to improve Irish language capability. 

All new staff will be provided with an induction pack containing a copy of our agreed scheme in order to ensure that they are made aware of our commitments under the legislation.   

6.2 Training and Development 

The National Museum of Ireland, is committed to making opportunities available for staff to attend appropriately accredited Irish language training courses, as resources permit.  All staff will be advised of facilities/opportunities to improve their competency in Irish.  

 6.3 Designated Irish Language Posts 

The posts listed below have been designated as having an Irish language competency requirement.  It is the intention that holders of these posts will have achieved a proficiency in the Irish Language.  

Or  

Irish Language Capability 

Having regard to Government policy for enhanced provision of services in Irish, the Department will, by the end of year one of the scheme, identify any posts for which Irish language competency is an essential requirement.  Every effort will be made to fulfil these requirements by the end of this scheme having regard to recruitment, promotion and training policies, as appropriate.  This will enable this Department to plan and prioritise the incremental improvement of services in Irish in a more strategic manner.  

Chapter 7: Monitoring and Review 

The implementation of the scheme will be monitored and reviewed on a regular basis by the HR/Corporate Affairs Unit.  The contact person for the scheme will be Aoife McBride, Corporate Affairs Manager.   

A formal system for monitoring requests for services through Irish will be available and recorded in our Annual Report.   

Chapter 8: Publicising of Agreed Scheme 

This scheme will be publicised both internally and externally, through a press release initially. A bilingual version of the scheme will be made available on our website and circulated to all staff and appropriate agencies.  Other means to publicise the scheme may also be used. 

In addition, we will take every opportunity in our day to day interaction with customers to promote and publicise the services we provide in Irish through the following means: 

• directly informing customers on a proactive basis of the option of conducting business with us through Irish, for example, by the display of notices at reception areas indicating the Irish language services that are available; 

• prominently listing these services on our website;  

• signifying on selected guidelines, leaflets and application forms that these documents are also available in Irish, unless presented bilingually;  

• giving equal prominence to Irish and English language materials. 

 A copy of the agreed scheme will be forwarded to the Office of An Coimisinéir Teanga. 

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